Focus on NCDs : The earnest work is showing results

It is time to encourage public private partnerships for training, medical education, diagnostic equipment, and preventive care delivery requirements to promote efficient use of resources.By Dr. Kenneth ThorpeChairman, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD)

Good health is one of the most crucial building blocks for human development. If we look at India and its socioeconomic and demographic parameters, the threat looming due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is alarming. Today, India is world’s fourth largest economy, presenting a multitude of business opportunities for global communities. What truly sets it apart is its demographic dividend of 1.27 billion people and the largest number of young workers in the world. The occurrence of NCDs is mostly in the population under the age of 60 years. Moreover, all forms of NCDs either lead to prolonged treatment cycles or premature death! This is threatening to a nation’s development and its economy as the most productive section of the society is getting significantly impacted. This along with low expenditure on public health, high out-of-pocket expenses and low prevalence of insurance coverage in India, is sending millions into abject poverty, and thus causing a drain on the public health system of the country.

I am encouraged to see a transformational shift in policy conversations, with healthcare coming to the forefront of business and policy debates. Here it will be good to narrate PFCD’s journey in India. We commenced our journey with the objective of providing impetus to political prioritization of NCDs in India. Over the last few years, PFCD has conducted several stakeholder roundtables and high-level meetings at various Ministries. The release of a first of its kind national blueprint- SANKALP as an evidence-based pathway to prevent, control and manage NCD, which we brought out in 2015 after many conversations with the government along with over 150 stakeholders was also well received by policy makers. In fact, the final draft of the policy incorporated two out of four policy recommendations submitted by PFCD.

All these efforts have paid rich dividends. I am happy to mention that the National Health Policy released earlier this year has its heart in the right place by prioritising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as an independent focus area, and is a testimony to the government’s long-term commitment to finding sustainable solutions for healthcare in the country. The recent initiative by the government on screening of common NCDs is very timely, and well aligned with the suggestions made by Partnership To Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), during the draft phase of the policy.

Road ahead

Although, promising steps have been taken but the goal of universal and quality healthcare for all is yet to be achieved!We strongly believe that investing in health improves health outcomes and life expectancy. The essential step would be to develop a well-rounded health package for funding of core elements for effective prevention and treatment of NCDs. This should be followed by timely implementation of such a package through a viable mix of complementary and supplementary financing, including government funds as well as other means like insurance. India cannot rely on a single public healthcare financing system to cover the entire population: it needs to take advantage of the range of insurance offerings – from government central and local, employers and the commercial insurance sector –to meet the diverse needs of various economic strata of the Indian population.

Establishing policies and an environment conducive to attracting private investment in the healthcare sector through incentives such as tax benefits, underwriting, and facilitating bank loans, especially to supplement care in underserved and difficult to reach areas. Encourage public private partnerships for training, medical education, diagnostic equipment, and preventive care delivery requirements to promote efficient use of resources. Ensure adherence to standard treatment guidelines in public and private hospitals to maintain acceptable level of quality and accountability in provision of care. There is also a dire need for investment in new biopharmaceutical R&D to address unmet medical needs with patients who have chronic conditions. By enabling research services and providing innovative products, healthcare systems will have access to affordable healthcare.

While the policy recognises all that needs to be done, sharp focus in needed on how these initiatives will be funded and put into action.

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